Problem Set 1

Phy 315 - Fall 2006

Assigned: Thursday, September 7 Due: Thursday, September 14

Problem 1: Noether’s Theorem and Galilean Boosts

Consider the following Lagrangian for N particles moving in three-dimensions:
N N
1
mi ṙ2i −
X X
L= V (ri − rj ) .
i=1 2 i6=j

A Galilean boost is defined by r0i = ri − vt. Consider an infinitesmal boost and,

a) work out the change in the Lagrangian,

d
δL = Ω.
dt
What is Ω?
b) What is the conserved quantity, G, associated with Galilean invariance?
c) Verify that the G you found in part b) is the generator of Galilean boosts, i.e.

{ri , G}P B = δri {pi , G}P B = δpi .

where {, }P B denotes the Poisson bracket and δri and δpi are the variations of the
coordinates and momenta, respectively, under infinitesmal Galilean boosts.

Problem 2: Angular Momentum and Generators of Rotations

a) Using the commutations for angular momentum, L, and position, r, show that

eiL·Θ re−iL·Θ = r + Θ × r .

to lowest order in Θ.
b) Show that
   

 x
  x cos θ − y sin θ 
 
eiLz θ y e−iLz θ = x sin θ + y cos θ .
z
  
 z


Problem 3: Quantum Runge-Lenz Vector
For the central force problem in three-dimensions,

p2 e2
L= − (1)
2m r
the quantum mechanical operator corresponding to the Runge-Lenz vector is
L×p−p×L r
A= + m e2 . (2)
2 r
Note that in order to obtain a Hermitian operator from the classical expression for A we
must make the substitution:
L×p−p×L
L×p→ (3)
2

a) Compute the following commutation relations:

[Li , Aj ] = ??? [Ai , Aj ] = ??? .

b) Show that

A · A = 2mE (L2 + h̄2 ) + m2 e4 (4)

This agrees with the classical result in the limit h̄ → 0, the term proportional to h̄2 is a
quantum correction.

Problem 4: Rotations in Four Dimensions

Consider a 4-dimensional space with coordinates (x, y, z, w).
a) Show that the operators

Li = ijk xj pk Ki = w p i − x i p w ,

generate rotations in this space by showing that the transformations generated by these
operators leave the four dimensional radius, defined by R2 = x2 + y 2 + z 2 + w 2 , invariant.
b) Compute the commutators

[Li , Kj ] = ??? [Ki , Kj ] = ??? .

and show they same as those found in part b) of Problem 3, up to an overall rescaling of Ai .